10 summer craft ideas for kids

Keep reading as we’ll show you some ideal craft projects to keep them busy and entertained for hours on end…

Handprint art

Not only is this activity super fun and easy, but it will leave you with some wall-worthy keepsakes to cherish for years to come. Start by setting up a table for your kids and covering it with newspaper or a protective tablecloth to keep things tidy.

You will need:

• Skin-safe paint
• Paper
• Scissors
• Shallow dish

All you need to do is add some paint to a shallow dish and get your children to dip their hands in it to make prints. You can use the handprints on one piece of paper to make a painting or cut out the dried handprints and arrange them together to create shapes such as dinosaurs, characters or monsters.

One recent popular trend is for one family member to make a handprint in one colour and let it dry. Then the next member adds their print on top in a different colour and lets it dry, and so on until you have all the family handprints on one easy-to-frame page.

Tie-dye

Tie-dying is a family crafting favourite which never goes out of fashion.

You will need:

• Light coloured fabric made from a natural fibre like cotton or linen.
• Tie-dye
• Gloves
• Rubber bands

To create cool patterns, help your kids to tie up parts of the shirt using rubber bands or make twists and folds where the effect will be. Some dyes recommend that you pre-soak the garment, so be sure to read the instructions before you start. Then, throw on your gloves and get dying.

Once you’ve given the fabric time to soak up the colour, you’ll need to rinse off the excess and stick it in the washing machine (on its own!).

This method is great for specific patterns and tones, but you may want to ice dying if you want something more spontaneous. Ice dying is where you tie up your garment as usual, but then you put it in a container, cover it in ice and sprinkle over the tie-dye powder. As the ice melts, it mixes with the powder and drips onto your garment for a more unusual pattern.

Paper flowers

If your child loves nature, making paper flowers can be a great way to keep them learning whilst getting creative.

You will need:

• Coloured paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Sticky tape

Firstly, help your child to cut out some petal shapes using coloured paper and cut out a small circle for the centre of your flower. Next, use a glue stick to adhere the petals around the edge of the circle. Work in layers, overlapping the petals until your flower head has the desired volume. Finish by tightly rolling up some green paper to form a stem and use glue or sticky tape to secure it to the base of the flowerhead.

Dream catchers

This craft is especially great for slightly older kids and has plenty of room for creativity and personalisation.

You will need:

• An embroidery hoop (or similar)
• Embroidery thread or yarn
• Pom poms
• Beads

Start by tying your yarn or thread in a secure loop to the embroidery hoop, then loop the yarn around the frame until it’s completely covered. Next, start making a criss-cross web pattern across the circle, wrapping the yarn around the frame for secure direction changes. To finish, dangle a few pieces of thread off the bottom and adorn the ends with beads or pom poms.

Painted plant pots

If you love proudly displaying your kid’s artwork, this one is for you – plus it’s perfect for the sunny season. If you don’t have any old pots, why not check out a discount garden centre, thrift store or your local Facebook group to see if anyone is getting rid of garden pots.

You will need:

• Plant pots – ceramic or terracotta is best
• Bright acrylic paints
• Stencils or stamps
• Sealant spray

You could paint little critters such as butterflies or ladybirds or use stamps and stencils to create a pattern. Let your kid decide, but once they have finished and the pots are dry, you’ll need to coat them in sealant spray so that the designs stay put when the pots are out in the elements.

Leaf art

Another great craft for nature lovers – especially later in the summer – is leaf art. This is art made using natural materials.

You will need:

• Dried, clean and bug-free leaves
• Glue stick
• Paper

Before your kids begin sticking anything down to the paper, get them to arrange the leaves to make their design first. You could use leaves to form the hair of a monster or use them to create animal shapes. Leaves also make great animal wings, such as butterflies, dragonflies or birds. Simply glue the leaves to the paper, et voila!

Origami

Whilst origami can be a little tricky for young ones, it’s great for older kids or those that love a challenge. Origami is great for boosting math and problem-solving skills, plus it’s an impressive trick to show their friends.

You will need:

• Coloured card or paper
• Scissors

Have a look online to help pick out a simple origami shape such as fish, birds or animal faces. Alternatively, there’s always the old favourite, chatterboxes and paper aeroplanes! Help your child cut the paper into squares and follow the instructions to make some awesome origami sculptures and games.

Felt puppets

Creating felt puppets will keep the kids busy for hours, as after they’ve crafted their felt characters, they can hold their very own puppet show. This will help to boost their storytelling, creativity and fine motor skills.

You will need:

• Coloured felt
• Glue
• Scissors
• Googly eyes

Start but cutting out two identical shapes of people, animals or monsters. Then help your child glue them together with an opening at the bottom for their hand or finger. Next, use smaller pieces of felt to make the features and clothes, then finish off with a pair of googly eyes.

Painted stones

Pebble or rock painting is super popular right now, which is great as they’re super easy to make and are excellent decorations for inside and out.

You will need:

• Large pebbles or stones
• Acrylic paint or markers
• Sealant

Make sure your rock is clean and dry before you paint it, then apply your design using acrylic paint. Some good design options include ladybugs, mini houses, characters, flowers or scenery. Once the paint is dry, seal the design with a sealant. For a bit of fun, why not write messages on the back, such as ‘hide me’ or ‘paint your own’, and leave them around the neighbourhood?

Paper butterflies

Paper butterflies are a simple way to make some stunning symmetrical art, as your kids will paint their design on one side and fold it to press the design on the other side.

You will need:

• Paper
• Paint
• Scissors

Fold your piece of paper in half and help your child cut out a butterfly wing shape. Then open it again and lie it flat for painting. Paint one side, and whilst the paint is wet, refold the paper pressing the sides firmly together to duplicate the design. Carefully pull apart the two pieces of paper to reveal two identical wings – and the perfect butterfly to decorate the fridge.

Now you have 10 easy ideas for craft projects with your kids. Question is, which will you try first?